Curtain-stretcher.



M. KRUVI.

CURTAIN STRETACHER.

APPLICAUON FILED sEPT.14. |916.

Patent-ed Apr. 29, 1919.

LBOZ

2 SHEETS-SHEEY ATTORNEY 37 INVENTOR nur..

NI. KRUIVI.

CURTMN STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14.1916.

Patented pr. 29,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEEF 2.

ATTORNEY MAXWELL Kaum, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CURTAIN-STRETGI-IER.

Lanarte.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, fllig.

Application'led September 14,' i916. Serial No. 120,i66.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MAXWELL KRUM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New York city, borough of Brooklyn," in the county of Kings and State of New York,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to laundry appliances, and more particularly to an iin-v proved curtain stretcher.

A primary object of the invention is evolved in the provision of a curtain stretcher whichcomprises a frame and fittings of novel form and construction asso-l ciated therewith so as to obviatethe necessity of grooving, slotting, bolting, hinging or otherwise specially or eXpensivelyl treat-` ingthe sections or lengths constituting portions of the wood frame of the stretcher so as to permit connection and adjustment thereof, and this isaccomplished by providing la curtain stretcher in which the frame members are connected by special and novel but simple forms of fittings which will permit adjustment of the longitudinal frame members independently of the transverse frame members and without disturbing adjustment of the latter, and vice versa, and which will also permit a wider range of adjustment of said members so as to accommodate curtains and similarpieces of Inaterial such as door panels and the like, to be stretched with equal facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved fitting which is adapted for use at the cornersof the stretcher frame so as to join the longitudinal members thereof with the transverse members and another fitting cooperative therewith for joining the abutting ends of the sections composing the longitudinal members so as to provide a framewhich is as rigid as if said longitudinal members were each constructed of one piece, said second mentioned fittings also serving to accommodate a transverse member, which in conjunction with the ttings serves to hold the longitudinal and transverse or 'side and end members of the stretcher frame absolutely parallel or in any other desired adjusted position against warping, wabbling or tendency to collapse, such as would tend to shape the frame in the form of an oblique parallelogram and thereby improperly stretch a curtain or the like.

A still furtherobject of the inventionis to provide an improved curtain frame and novel fittings which will greatly simplify the adjustment of the frame and permit the sections thereof to be freely moved instead of binding, such as occurs where the use of tongueand-groove parts, telescoping frame sections, clamping bolts engaged through slots in the frame sections or other similar means are resorted to vfor adjustably connecting the sections of the frame of a curtain stretcher, it beingalso an object to provide a device Iwhich is simple in construction7 ificient in operation and economical to prouce. Y

With the above objects and others in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangements of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had vto the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like characters indicate the corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein,

Figure l is an inside elevation of one of the fittings used at a corner of the curtain stretcher frame and showing the method of application of `the sections of the frame thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the fitting shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the fitting used midway of the longitudinal sections of the frame.

Fig. 5 is an edge View thereof.

Fig. 6 is an inside elevationthereof.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a complete curtain stretcher constructed in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 8 is an edge elevation thereof.

As shown in the drawings, the improved curtain stretcher includes a pair of longitudinal frame members or sides 9 each composed of a pair of sections 10 with their ends abutted together as shown at 11. All of the sections 10 are of equal lengths and correspond in length to transverse orv end sections 12 and an intermediate transverse bracing section 13, whereby when the curtain stretcher is taken apart, the sections may be so assembled as to facilitate packing, storing alnd'shipping thereof, All ofv the sections eXcept the section 13 areJ provided with a rabbeted or grooved edge 14: from the face of which project a series of equi-distantly spaced pins 15 over which the curtains or other pieces of laundry to be stretched are engaged. The frame sections may be suitablyinarked or measured off in the usual way of indicating the lengths of adjustmentmade thereon, if desired.

In connection with the curtain stretcher, a special form of fitting is employed at the corners thereof to join the sections 10 of the longitudinal or side pieces 9 with the transverse or end sections 12 and permit independent adjustment thereof. This fitting besides the illustration thereof in Figs. 7 and 8, is shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Vcomprises a single casting 16 of any suitable metal i having opposed, inwardly opening U-shaped top and bottom portions 17 and 18, said portions being disposed in crossed relation at right angles intermediately of their lengths and joined by aconnecting portion 19 constituting prolongations of the respective ends of the U-shaped portions which are thus joined. Each of said U-shaped portions 17 and 18 is provided with a boss 20 and a threaded aperture coaxial therewith and disposed in vertical alinement at the axial center of the casting intermediately of the ends of the U-shaped portions, or substantially so as shown. Engaged in these threaded apertures are clamping screws 21 and 22 having enlarged clamping jaws 23, preferably in the form of wash* ers riveted to the ends of the screws by upsettingrsaid ends against the washers.

The U-shaped portions 17 of the castings 16 receive the sections 10 of the longitudinal frame members 9 between the depending portions 23 and.24= thereof, said depending portions being slightly longer than the thickness of the frame members for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully explained. In a like manner, the end portions 25 and 26 of the U-shaped portions 18 are sightly longer than the thickness of the frame sections and the U-shaped. portions 18 receive the end members 12 which are disposed in crossed relation at right angles to the longitudinal members in such a manner that when the screws 21 are tightened, the clamping jaws 23 thereof will be forced against the longitudinal members so that the latter will be jammed against the edges 27 of the `parts 25 and 26, while when the screws 22 are tightened, the jaws thereof are forced against the end members 12 and the latter are jammed against the edges 28 of the dependingV end. portions 23. and 24, the mem* berslOand `12..thereof. being out of contact sothat either of the screws may be loosened to permit Yindependent adjustment of said members. When the clamping screws are tightened, the members 10 and 12 will'be substantially in contact but by permitting the members 10 and 12 to be independently held by the respective clamping members, the length of the frame may be adjusted withoutinteferring with the adjustment of the width of the frame so that the longitudinal members comprised by the sections 10 and the end members 12 may be adjusted in their spaced relation to each other without interfering with both, such as is necessary with the curtain stretchers at present on `the market. Furthermore, a wider range of adjustment is permitted where the longitudinal members are composed of one or two sections so as to permit the accommodation of a very large size curtain or a very smal piece of material to be stretched, such as door panels. Furthermore, the necessity of slotting or grooving the frame pieces is obViated, as well as the possibility ofthe frame becoming lopsided or taking the shape` 'of an oblique parallelogram or causing the parts to bind in such a way as to interfere ,with adjustment. A

, The castings 29 employed yat the intermediate portions of the frame of the curtain stretcher, that is, midway ofthe lengths of the longitudinal members 9 to join and hold in rigid alinement the sections 10 composing said longitudinal members when the longitudinal members are constructed of two sections, are shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, besides the illustration thereof in Figs. 7 and 8. These fittings each comprise spaced overhanging jaws 30 extending inwardly in spaced parallel relation from end members 31 from which said overhanging jaws branch and project toward each other asshown at 32. A connecting part 32 serves to join said overs. hanging clamping jaws and with the end por.- tions 31 produce a U-shaped part co-rrespending to the U-sh'aped part 18. The overhanging jaws 30 are provided with flanged portions33 which lit over the rabbeted por tion of the sec-tions 10 at the abutting ends thereof and thus hold these sections in alinement in addition to the reinforcing function served by a flat metallic connecting plate 34 which overlaps the abutting ends of the sections 10 and is secured to each section by a pair of screws or other fastening means 35. The end portions 31 are providedwith recesses 36 which accommodate the plates 34 and this serves to further hold Athe sections 10 of the longitudinal or side piecesz9 in eX- act alinement and rigidly.

Between the end portions 31 an opening 37 is provided to receive the intermediate transverse Vbrace 1.3 whichis not grooved or provided withpins and this brace is limited in its upward movement by contact with the bottom edges 38 of the oppositely projecting portions 32 when said brace is clamped againstthe bottom faces :of the sections 10 through the instrumentality of clamping screws 39 operating in a threaded aperture in the part 32 and a boss 4L() projecting from the latter'. The bosses in each instance are provided to increase the length of the bearing for the screws, while a clamping jaw or head 41 on the screws 39 like the clamping jaws 23 on the other screws, serves to prevent mutilation of the frame sections and also provides for a: firmer gripping action.

In the operation of the device it will be understood that the sections 10 are fitted together to produce the longitudinal fra-me members and joined by the fittings 29 which clamp the same to the transverse brace 13, the latter holding the longitudinal members uniformly spaced `apart intermediate-ly of the length of the stretcher frame. The end members 12 are then clamped to the sections 10 and by tightening the respective pairs of screws 21 at the ends of the frame, the end members 12 may be adjusted longitudinally on the sections 10 of the longitudinal members so as to shorten or lengthen the stretcher frame by increasing or decreasing the distance between said end members. By loosening the respective pairs of clamping screws 22 at the sides of the frame, together with the coincident set-screws 39 at the same sides, the longitudinal members may be adjusted on the transverse or end members so as to increase or decrease the width of the frame, that is, the distance between the longitudinal members whether formed of single sections or made in sectional form of two pieces as shown.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while I describe the principle of operation of the invention, together with the devices which I now consider to be the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that the devices shown are merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the device Ias claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States' is:

1. In a curtain stretcher, a series of rabbeted sections of equal length having stretching pins secured to the faces of said rabbeted portions, said frame being assembled to provide sides and ends, each side comprising two sections with their ends abutted together, connecting means for the abutting ends of said sections of the sides, fittings receiving said abutting ends, said fittings each comprising a substantially U-shaped member having end portions and oppositely extending and overhanging jaws engaging said sections at the shoulders provided by the rabbeted portions, and a clamping screw at the U-shaped portion, a cross brace received by said U-shaped portions and clamped to the abutting ends by said screws, and fittings connecting the sides to the ends.

2. In a curtain stretcher, a. series of rabbeted sections of equal length having stretching pins secured to the faces of said rabbeted portions, said frame beingoassembled to provide sides Iand ends, each side comprising two sections with their ends abutted together, connecting means for the abutting ends of said sections of the sides, fittings receiving said abutting ends, said fittings eafch comprising a substantially U-shaped member having end portions and oppositely extending and overh'anging jaws engaging said sections at the shoulders provided by the rabbeted portions, and a clamping screw at the Ueshaped portion, a cross brace re ceived by said U shaped portions and clamped to the abutting ends by said screws, and fittings connecting the sides to the ends, said latter fittings comprising opposed U- shaped members at right angles and connected at one end, and independent clamping members carried by said U-sh-aped portions for connecting said sides and ends to permit independent clamping or loosening thereof.

3. In a curtain stretcher, a series of rabbeted sections of equal length having stretching pins secured to the faces of said rabbeted portions, said frame being assembled to provide sides and ends, each side comprising two sections with their ends abutted together, fittings receiving said abutting ends, said fittings each comprising a substantially U- shaped member` having end portions and oppositely extending and overhanging jaws engaging said sections at the shoulders provided by `the rabbeted portions and clamping means at the U-shaped portion, and means connecting the sides and ends to permit simultaneous or independent adjustment thereof, said independent adjustment being made while positively holding the sections not being adjusted, against movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAXWELL KRUM.

Witnesses:

J oHN E. BURGH, CHARLES F. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or tratante, Washington, D. C. 

